Whether you are in the area for a romantic stroll during those chilly nights, a cheap first-date (*wink* its free!), or a family outing Zoo Lights at the Smithsonian National Zoo will not let you down. What they WILL do, however, is LEAD you down dimly lit paths through their vast gardens, lit only by the glowing light displays lining their trees, fields and sculptures. It does not stop there, my friend. As you continue you are invited to see their "Gin-GRR-Bread" house exhibit made by local schoolchildren. Caution: Some of these houses are works of future architects and will tempt you to disavow all of your own glorious attempts at creating a work of art VIA gingerbread molds. In this room are also massive train sets and city replicas. Following along the trail, there will be various stands selling snacks, hot chocolates and adult libations. You can also see the reptile, primate, and small mammal exhibits before making your way back along the trail lit with christmas lights sculpted into lizards, tigers and horses. Smithsonian never disappoints. read more

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Make a deal with the weather God and go to Zoolights when it's 50+ degrees out! Previous reviews talked about admission fees. Well that's definitely no more. But there are ways to make the trip more expensive: water bottles are $3, food options are mostly fried/unhealthy, and all the activities (carousal, train, tubing) cost a few bucks here and there. However you can control what you want to spend. Eat dinner at home if you don't want to pay $8 for subpar chicken tenders and fries. Use the 25 cent single horse carousal outside grocery stores (do they still have those? or am I too old school?), and find water fountains throughout the zoo to save $. The lights were average - some had music and most sections were themed. There was a 3-man band playing some of our favorite xmas hits, and a few places (ape, reptile) were open for you to warm up and get cozy up with your favorite python. Overall it's a nice walk if it's not too cold outside, but it's not worth going simply for the lights. If you're looking for something shiny and distracting for the kids, yet you don't mind spending a few bucks to feed/entertain them, ZooLights is a great option. For adults, they do sell beer/wine and shots of whiskey in the visitor center. I'm going to make another deal and find another 50+ degrees day in December to take more pictures. read more

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What a wonderful exhibit. There were tons of lights used to illustrate animal shapes. It is an exhibit that is fun for all ages. My favorite lights were on the zoo lights sign, the eagle that "flew" to its nest, the lions and the christmas tree lights that were lit simultaneously with the music (similar to the Bellagio waterfall in Las Vegas, NV - on a smaller scale). Even my friend's bf, who is awesome, but quiet picky, loved the exhibit. Oh and for those of you who are still interested going there is a random person in panda outfit inside of a plastic globe ... hilarious to watch! read more

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This is such a wonderful free and festive event to check out each holiday season. Despite Saturday night being extremely crowded, our time at ZooLights flew by and before we knew it we were being told that we had to leave because it was closing for the evening. The new laser light show that is projected onto the elephant enclosure is a great addition. While the majority of ZooLights is outside, so you'll want to bundle up, you can pop inside to see the wonderful train display and gingerbread house competition, as well as go inside the ape house, reptile exhibit, small mammals, and the think tank building, where Pepco hands out glow-in-the-dark light sticks to warm up. read more

This is a decent Christmas event, and one that people living in DC really should try at least once. For tourists, though, they're not missing much if they skip it. I could always go for something free, but there isn't much magic to this. I was hoping to be blown away by the spectacle of it, but there's not much too it. The live music was a nice touch, and I liked the few LED "animated" displays, which I'm sure the kids will enjoy as well. Overall though, it was a brief pleasant walk. After about 15-20 mins, there just wasn't enough to keep us interested, and we left. They do have some of the houses open, which is nice, but they do get crowded. Also, the layout of the place isn't conducive to the leisurely stroll in and out I was hoping to have. It's not all one big circle, so you'll have to go in, then walk all the way back out. I'm glad I went, but who knows if I'll ever be back. read more

This was my first time at a ZooLights event. There is one in the city we reside in, but it has never sparked my interest to go. However, this one was different. It was at the National Zoo in Washington DC! So, it was worth every penny we paid (the zoo's parking fee that was, since admission into the zoo is free). These types of community events are a sometimes a bit of a disappointment because there is a serious upcharge on all other zoo activities. For example, a package of s'mores for the fire pit was $8. Whaaaaat?? Yup, for graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows. Shoot, next time, I'll pocket some in! LOL. Only some of the zoo exhibits were open during this time, which was okay, but would have been cool to see more. The exhibits that were indoors because it gave us some refuge from the bitter cold night. Get here early! Even go a couple hours early, so you can see some of the zoo attractions and just stay for the ZooLights festivities. The later you arrive, the busier it will be. My family and I tried the first night we were in town, but the lines to even be able to park were absurd! So, we scooted out and planned for another evening. Anyway, glad we got to partake in the nation's special zoo activity. Happy Holidays! read more

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You can't beat free. If you're looking for a festive activity during the holiday season, and you already visited the National Christmas Tree, Zoolights is the place to go. Tip for staying warm/increasing festivity: the food pavilion at the bottom of the hill (across from the Big Cats) has spiked warm drinks. You can get peppermint schnapps, spiced rum, bourbon or a few other merrymakers in your hot chocolate or cider for $8. read more

ZooLights - Zoos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Did someone say free festivities? When it's dark and cold outside, it's time for a walk through the zoo. There used to be an admission fee to walk through the zoo lights, but hey Yelp! is sponsoring it this year so it's free for all to share. As you walk through the park, everything glows with a...uhm...with a glow. Ok, fine. I'm not always such a virtuoso with words... Great time. Check it out. read more

After reading up on previous reviews, the impression that I got was that people paid for this in the years past? I think I would've cried myself to sleep had I paid for Zoo Lights. It really would have been a waste of money. Good thing this is free! I am a huge fan of holiday lights (as in, it is a danger for me to be driving through a neighborhood because my focus shifts from "road" to "Ooo! Lights!") and overall, I thought the displays here were just okay. They did have some of the animal houses open which was fun but, I get more of a kick out of driving through my neighborhood. I think they saved the best for last - the synchronized light and music display at the very end of the zoo. I wish we could have stayed to watch the entire thing, but sadly they were closing and had one of their trucks follow us back up to the entrance to get us out. Totally creepy, I know. If you really want to stop and go to the gift shop, see all the lights, the animals, talk to zoo employees about what's going on with the animals, AND take pictures, try showing up around 6:630 since this event is only open from 6-8:30. Not bad but like I said, good thing it's free! read more

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Enjoyed a beautiful evening at ZooLights. It was a very festive atmosphere with lighted trees everywhere. We didn't get a chance to see any animals and the gingerbread house was a disappointment, but this free event was an awesome way to get families out and about on a lovely and not too cold evening. read more

Zoo lights is only worth going to if you have young kids! We are members so we have been twice during "members week" so far. You get a free gift as a member - we got a cute tote bag with a panda and four sets of light up gloves- two adult and two kid sizes. We also got a punch card for 8 free rides. The "Gingerbread Village" is kind of a joke, so don't get your hopes up or anything. It consists of a little "house" front that you can take a pic in- in the doorway (at 5'2" I had to crouch) or through the window. There are 3 gingerbread figures, some candy canes, a gingerbread throne and a bench. That's it! More of a photo opportunity, but difficult to get good photos with large crowds and bad lighting. The lines for food were very long but it did smell nice and festive. A big plus- renovated bathrooms!!! So many stalls and so clean- located by the kids farm which is where you could take the train ride (which at $3 a person is definitely not worth it, but fun to ride if you have a free punch card). We saw a few more rides but our baby is too small, so we took her on the carousel which was nice. Parking was craaaaaazy on Sunday- we couldn't even get in because they closed the lots and had to park a mile away and walk. On Wednesday right at opening (well we went early at 4:30) parking was easy and plentiful. It was pretty full by the time we left around 5:45. Overall, not worth the hype but worth checking out if you are bored and have children to entertain! read more

If you like the zoo, you'll like zoolights! Tons of lights in the theme of different zoo animals, some of them sing and are animated! Super colorful and fun to do with friends, family or even a first date! I just wish they had more hot chocolate spots or something to do within the zoo that was for adults rather than just kids. I know they do a brewlights version of zoolights but it's only for one day so that's not very accommodating, still fun though read more

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Cute lights in the shape of animals! How can you not like that? Parking is $16 but you can metro here. read more

ZooLights - Zoos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Lots of kids running around which is to be expected. The lights weren't anything special, it was mostly just wrapped trees. But I think for a free light event it was nice. read more

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Great event for couples and families. The lights are plentiful along the main path. The animal exhibits are mostly closed off except for the reptile and small animal exhibits. There are local small business with tents up and snacks available along the path. Similar to the holiday market downtown. They also have Cheetos popcorn. Did I mention that it's absolutely free? I wouldn't say it lives up to its hype but it's definitely worth seeing. I would recommend making the 'zoo lights' entrance a bit grander. Doesn't do justice to what is inside. read more

This event was so fun and festive! I'm not from the area so it was really great to try for the first time. The animals weren't out during it unfortunately but the lights were so pretty. All of the trees and fixtures were lit up. We spent about an hour there walking through. It was super busy so make sure you stay together - it's easy to get lost! And dress warm! read more

ZooLights - Zoos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My family and I attended the zoo lights event during the Thanksgiving weekend and it was disappointing. We walked through the entire display, including stops for food/drinks, and it took us only 45 mins. 95% of the food vendors were out of hot chocolate 30 mins into the event. Poor planning I guess. The food was very expensive as most DC prices are. I would not attend again. Try the Meadowlarks botanical garden in Vienna instead. Way more lights and beautiful scenery. read more

I took my family and nephews here on opening night 11/23/18 and it was kinda disappointing. The Gingerbread House was a joke and not really a house - more like a couple of props for folks to take pictures. There was only one food truck type of vendor and the line was really long. So you could smell funnel cakes but it would have taken you 30/40 mins to get one. Overall it was just ok - I think the kids enjoyed it some. read more

My husband and I have gone to ZooLights every year since it started in 2007 and it has become a holiday tradition for us. It used to be a paid event ($12/person for non-FONZ members) and parking was included free as part of your ticket. In 2010 and 2011 though, the Zoo has made it a free event and parking is $16 for non-FONZ members. Since they have made this change, the ZooLights experience has gone seriously down hill. Date Night: The Zoo used to do a Date Night that for $30 per couple included a photo, stuffed animal, a voucher for 2 hot chocolates and cookies, and some other fun add-ons. Since the Zoo has made ZooLights free, they have done away with Date Night which is very disappointing. Food: Even though they don't have Date Night, my husband and I still get a hot chocolate and cookies as part of our ZooLights experience. The quality of cookies has decreased considerably the last two years though and this year the $3 8oz cup of hot chocolate tasted like it had just enough cocoa mix in it to not be called water. (Tip: Grab a hot chocolate from 7 Eleven on the other side of Connecticut Ave for a lot less money and a much better tasting hot chocolate.) Entertainment: ZooLights used to have a puppet show and some other entertainment on the picnic pavilion but this year it was replaced by an iceless skating rink that's smaller than my living room where you can skate for 30 minutes for $7. On the hill across the picnic pavilion, there used to be a beautiful holiday light display that was synchronized to holiday music but they didn't have that this year which was disappointing. One of the other highlights of ZooLights in past years was the light displays around the Great Cats exhibit which was replaced this year by a train ride for $2/person. We would have done the train ride if it wasn't for the extremely long just to buy tickets and then another long line to wait to get on the train. Crowds: When tickets were paid, there were a limited amount to buy each evening but now there seems to be no limit. The animal houses especially the Small Mammal and Ape Houses are so over crowded that it's impossible to get a good look at the exhibits. There is also not enough Zoo Staff around (they are probably too busy selling add-ons) and it is clear that the animals are very stressed by the crowds of children and some adults knocking on the glass trying to wake them up while they are sleeping. Parking: Parking used to be free and you can just pull out of the lot when you left. Now you have to pay on the way out and last year we waited in line in the parking lot for 45 minutes before we got out. Overall, it seems like the Zoo has turned what used to be a fun holiday event into just a way to make the most money possible. I wish they would go back to being a paid event and even if they raised the prices, I think it would make a much better experience if it controlled the crowds and long lines. read more

2.0 stars:-(!! The Zoolights Event at the National Zoological Park in my opinion should have been named "The Boo-Hoo Lights" because for $10 dollars and a $5 dollar Ticketmaster processing fee, they were a real "Boo-Boo!" A sparse spattering of LED lights in the shape of animals for this amount of money does not constitute the price. Come on Comcast, are LED lights in the shape of a gopher the best you can do? For the price we pay for your services, one would have expected more! There were not many animal exhibits open for the Boo-Hoo Zoolights Event and the ones that were, the animals looked tired, wanted to get some sleep, and were tired of us staring at them through plexiglass. The gorillas actually had their blankets pulled over their heads to try to escape the constant glares of passers by. I thought it was quite rude to keep these guys up for this event with bright fluorescent lights glaring and to make them go to such extremes as to turn their backs and pull covers over their heads in order to sleep. Not cool, just not cool!! I could not even enjoy a greasy funnel cake because they closed the stand down 20 minutes before this tired event ended! To conclude, I hope next year's Zoolights is better. It really needs some work and believe me, you can see better displays of Holiday Lights just by driving through the neighborhoods of DC!! read more

Me: Where do I pay for tickets for Zoolights? My friend who works for the Zoo: No tickets anymore. It's free! Me: Didn't they used to charge like $8? What kind of scheme is this? Well, I can confirm that there's no scheme - Zoolights is free! In case you haven't been to the National Zoo, it's a cutesy holiday special event where the zoo is open at night and lit up with LED lights in animal form. You can visit some of the animal enclosures (Small Mammals, Reptiles, Apes) and see a few of the animals that are outside (big cats), but mainly you're here to stroll through the zoo to admire the lights and feel a little like a kid again. I've only gone with friends, but I imagine it's a cute date place despite the kiddie chaos. Seriously, they have a snow globe that has a guy in a panda costume named Panda Claws dancing around in it. They've beefed it up on the lights since the last time I went(2009?), and are now have pay to play options like the carousel ($3) and tubing open for the kids. There were also a ton of lights for sale, and the concessions stands were out in full force (ah! this is why they don't charge admission anymore). Not to mention that parking has skyrocketed ($16 for non FONZ folks). Also, did the Zoo always offer alcoholic options at concessions? I was jealous of my friend who wisely upgraded his cider for $2 and add a shot of whiskey. For more details about Zoolights, http://nationalzoo.si.edu/activitiesandevents/celebrations/zoolights/default.cfm read more

Now i'm very biased in this review because i LOVE the zoo and also because i'm a biology teacher, so nerdy things excite me. But basically Zoolights was a way to show off the animals while they were sleeping. Most of the park was closed off and most of the animals were not visible. However, they had lights showing all kinds of different animals. Many of them were accompanied by sound effects of animal noises. It almost felt like the animals were actually there. There were a few of the houses open. The small mammal house was open and what was really kind of neat was that there were mice in almost all of the exhibits. apparantly there is a huge mice problem at the zoo, but nobody ever sees it as mice are nocturnal. I felt like i got a little insight into the zoo. They had the little petting farm area open as well and the animals were pretty friendly, even though the donkeys were trying to sleep :)The reptile house was also open but we didn't go in. By far the coolest part for me (being the bio nerd) was the ape house. The apes were all sleeping but what was amazing is that they looked exactly like humans sleeping. I know we share about 96% of the same DNA but i've never seen it in action until i saw those apes sleeping. They were curled up in very similar positions as humans. It was incredible to see. There was also zoo staff on site to answer any questions which was really nice. They have a lot of other things going on besides just the lights. They had an ice sculptor and some shows. I read in the program that they also had cookie decorating contests. There was snacks for sale including funnel cakes and kettle corn and the Mane restaurant was open as well. They had a starbucks stand and i dont think they were actually selling anything, but they did have free samples of their peppermint hot chocolate, which was a nice touch to keep people going on the cold evening. So while all the lights were based on animals and not at all Christmas centered, for me this was a great way to start off the holiday season and really got me in the mood. I highly reccommend checking it out! read more

Zoo lights is such a nice, free (hence the 5 stars) way to spend a winter evening in the holiday season. The indoor exhibits were open and there are little activities and light shows along the main path of the zoo. This is perfect for a family and is very child-friendly. It is also great to attend as a group of friends or a date that will get everyone in the holiday spirit. The highlights: Seeing children be silly and have a lot of fun I guarantee will make you laugh. Unexpectedly, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to adults talk to the animals in their various special animal voices. I didn't notice this last time, so maybe we were just around some "interesting" spectators this go around. There were also a few light shows that were coordinated to holiday music which certainly attracted crowds. In review, zoo lights is a fantastic event for people of all ages. So either get silly or bring your embarrassing animal voice A-game. read more

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For a group of adults looking for a fun night out in DC, go elsewhere. This is totally kid orientated. Really not worth the hype all around. Traffic, parking and the crowd were a huge downer. Plus the spectacle was below our expectations. read more

ZooLights is a fun, seasonal event, and given that it is free, I recommend visiting to take a stroll through the zoo, especially if it is an unseasonably warm evening like it was on my visit this past Saturday. Zoolights runs from 5-9pm every day of the week, so, naturally, the weekend will be the most crowded time. We arrived just before 5pm and we were through with our visit by 7pm. While we did not go on any of the rides, like the carousel and the tubing (which looked like fun but was clearly for a younger age set ie: kids), we did walk through the ape house, the small mammal house, and the reptile house, all of which are open during the ZooLights event. They have beverages for sale, including wine, beer, coffee, hot chocolate, and cider. Food is also available- chili, hot dogs, and kettlekorn were the main items I noticed. In the Visitor Center, they had a model train display and gingerbread displays. There was a laser light show, projected every 20 minutes from the outside of the elephant house building. It was geared towards kids, who seemed to really enjoy it, but from an adult perspective, it was pretty unimpressive. The lights were beautiful to walk through and we were able to see lots of the animals in the ape house being more active that I have seen them in the past. I would highly advise taking the metro as parking is $20 and the walk to the zoo from the metro is not bad at all. read more

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Despite Living Socials ridiculous fine print, I and my group finally made it ZooLights this past Sunday. For $28, I got parking, 4 train rides, 4 slides and 4 hot chocolates. Quite a bit of savings indeed (even if I wasn't allowed to go on a Saturday) since my daughter would have made me do those things anyway. Parking was a bit of a hassle. There seemed to be far more cars waiting than spaces available but I got a space so I stopped worrying about the rest of them after that. The lights were pretty and abundant. It was busy, but tolerable and a few exhibits were open, although going in the Ape House was a big, big mistake. No monkeys in sight and it smelled like a dirty bellybutton. I was happy to return the frigid outdoor temps to escape that smell. That aside, it was a good time. We are incredibly lucky to have such a cool zoo available to us at no cost. read more

I used to come here every year when I lived in the area. It's free and a great way to spend the evening with family and friends. It can get rather crowded at times, so going later in the evening might be a better option. Parking can be somewhat of a pain. If possible, save yourself the hassle and take the metro. You'll save time, money and frustration trying to get in and out of the parking lot. read more

ZooLights - Zoos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Yana was really excited about this excursion because her mother was in town (in the country) and thought this would be a fun thing to introduce her mother to. We already visited the Centreville lights, which I thought was ok and wasn't very sure how to judge this light show. I was not very impressed with the lights at all, and it didn't ease things having to pay $10 per person but it was for FONZ? Should have asked what that stood for. I'll just google it. Anyways, the lights kinda sucked but did have a good time going into the small mammal exhibits, the monkey house, and the reptile house. Well that actually kinda sucked too because pretty much every animal was asleep. Might be a dumb question but how do they no its night time? Internal clock maybe? It was an ok time for walking around the zoo at night. Actually was kinda kewl. Walking sucks!!! especially back uphill with no hot chocolate because it closed. damn it!!! read more

There's definitely less to see when it's dark and the lights are spread out so you'd better be ready for some walking. A better holiday display that won't tire the kids out as much would be the Botanic Garden's Winter Wonderland which features miniature houses made of natural materials. The Zoo at night is less crowded and easier to navigate than the Botanic Gardens which gets busy. In addition to the lights, there are performers and indoor activities where it's warmer. Also, the dancing character in the snow globe is a good photo op alternative to picture with Santa at the mall. This past year, they had a panda. Some children enjoyed watching and dancing with the panda but a few were scared. Long, dark walks viewing scattered lights and grabbing a hot drink might make a good date. The price of $12 for non-FONZ members, $10 with coupon from Giant, may seem steep but just remember you're supporting the National Zoo. read more

I've wanted to head to this since I moved to the area, but have always had work/school/holiday travel get in the way. I went last night and really enjoyed it. Being a huge fan of holiday lights, this was a great draw for me. A great date or walk with a family. Just be prepared for the walk. The light routes follow one of the steeper walkways through the zoo. read more

ZooLights - Zoos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I don't know what I expected but I had hoped for more. I moved to DC only a few months ago and had not had the opportunity to visit the National Zoo. ZooLights seemed like a perfect opportunity to acquaint myself with the zoo while enjoying a holiday festivity. The weather was cold but we had dressed appropriately - hats, scarves, gloves and, oh yeah, warm coats. We even snuck in some wine to keep our insides warm as we toured the sites. The small mammal exhibit was good - lots of porcupines, little monkeys and even a sloth. The sloth was up and moving, albeit slowly and we walked him move across the ceiling. They also had a multi-colored squirrel that we wanted to release and bring home so he could eat at our house. The apes were disappointing as the were all asleep! I assume that the zoo is not normally open at this time and the sleeping habits of its inhabitants probably coincide with the zoo hours. And none of the large animal exhibits (cats, elephants, etc.) were open. Overall, it was fun but there was very little to see besides the ... lights, many of which were fashioned to look like zoo animals. Personally, I'd rather see the real animals... read more

My family and I are Xmas season fanatics and try to do as much in the area to celebrate the season as we can year in and year out. Last year we did the zoo lights and it was cold, which made it a quick visit. This year it's 62 outside and perfect for a night at the zoo lights...except that's what everyone else thought too! LONG LINES EVERYWHERE AND FOR EVERYTHING! Way too many people to really enjoy it all. The kids loved it but without really knowing how much we skipped. Still a good experience. Especially with my Living Social deal. read more

Went for the first time just before the holiday and I will never, never return. I love the zoo during the day (another review) but add crowds, traffic, parking, freezing temperatures, lines, silly rides with unreasonable prices (really, $3 for a three minutes "train" ride?) and I was a very, very disappointed dad. "Aren't you just a curmudgeon in training though?" Yes, but does not mean that I think this is a pass. The lights are meh and I really do not think the kids enjoy it. Not to mention that's it's night and they do not highlight the nocturnal animals. In the end, it's the worst part of the zoo experience, at a premium. Even the staff, adequate on a good day, seems to increase in sloth and surliness as the hours pass. Stick to day time visits; for your sanity and your kid's enjoyment. read more

Zoo Lights is a fun (and free!) way to spend an evening strolling through the National Zoo. From 5 - 9 PM, lights in the shapes of zebras, iguanas, and elephants illuminate the main path. The reptile, small mammal, and ape houses are all open if you want to spot some real animals or get a break from the cold, however these houses were extremely crowded. The reptile house was so packed we couldn't see in any of the exhibits, so we decided to skip it. And in the ape house all of the monkeys were asleep.. pretty cute :) There are stands selling popcorn and other treats, music, and a "sled" ride to entertain. Other than those attractions, the lights, and a few animal houses, there's not much to do at Zoo Lights, but I enjoyed taking a nice walk outside. Toward the end of the path, there was a light show timed to the Nutcracker, which I thought was pretty awesome and perfect for the holidays. The only downside was the crowds of people and strollers. If you don't mind spending your night with a few hundred other families, then I'd definitely pay Zoo Lights a visit! read more

This past weekend I went to Zoo Lights and I have to say I am becoming more and more disappointed with the National Zoo (I have other stories to tell but will keep to Zoo lights for this review). We thought it would be a treat to take our twin three year olds and since we are members of the Fonz we decided to go during the "members only time period". Our due diligence was all for naught. We were first treated to a 45 min wait in traffic looking for parking that we were never able to find. I might add that the first lot we passed that was closed because it was "full" had multiple spaces open. There were no lot attendees and no apparent communication for parking updates as to open or closed lots. During one of the many stoppages we spoke to a "Zoo Official" who had absolutely no idea what was going on. After finally making it to the other side of the Zoo (we came in on Connecticut Ave. and exited on to Rock Creek Parkway), we were almost at the point of giving up when we decided to loop back around to Connecticut Ave. (thank goodness my wife knows her way around DC...I would have been totally lost) only to find virtually no street parking. On a whim I went down a one way road and miraculously found a spot and finally after quite a bit of walking we arrived at the Zoo. The lights were beautiful but the event was poorly run. Again we were there during the "members only time period" expecting less crowds, and easy access. We soon realized the reason so many people were there was that no one was checking for "Fonz Membership" so everyone and anyone had access. There was also supposed to be a complimentary tote bag for members which of course they were out of. At the end of the day my boys did enjoy the lights and the animals but it's just tough to stomach such bad service when you are a member of the Fonz and a taxpayer. I really hope the National Zoo gets there act together because it is a place that I would like to bring my family for many years to come. read more

What a fun, enjoyable, fantastic way to spend an evening, approaching the holidays. This is such a great opportunity to reconnect with the family, entertain the kids or just to take a step back into your own childhood, let go of the stresses, headaches and responsibilities of being an adult for a few hours. We happened to visit on a very cold evening, but the light exhibits, the imagination and the execution of the ideas and displays were so captivating, that my husband and I hardly noticed the nip in the air, the cold hands or the frosty nose. We were moving, enchanted, from display to display, enjoying the set ups, the music, the wander and gasps from numerous kids and adults, alike. We sang the "under the sea" song, we watched the bald eagle fly, we admired the elephants, the tigers, the zebras, weaving our way through the entire zoo. Many of the pavilions were open, as well. The best part is IT'S FREE!!! And for those using public transportation, there is a complimentary bus shuttle from the zoo to the Red Line Woodley Park stop. When was the last time you went to the zoo for free? read more

Eh it's ok.... literally all you see are lights. You don't see animals..... at the zoo, which is a disappointment. All of the exhibits are closed. I saw a distant zebra at night time if that counts. So all you do is walk on a path with lit up trees and eat funnel cake, while it's cold. The basic $10 funnel cake was seriously the highlight of my night. I wouldn't go back or recommend it. Parking is tight and expensive. But at least entering the zoo is free! read more

I had just finished an hour and a half meeting at Starbucks, and was headed home, though I didn't actually want to go home because it was such a beautiful December evening. It was the perfect night for... ZooLights! Within two minutes of entering the Zoo, I witnessed a boy walk along the railing, fall of the railing, hold on to his arm, and scream and scream and scream.Passersby had to tell his mother what happened since she was walking about 3 yards ahead of him, and had no idea what he had been doing/what just happened. I found the whole thing slightly comforting/a little amusing because I've spent many night working in a Kids Club with 20 + children running around an enclosed space, and it was a relief to hear a crying kid that I was not responsible for comforting. I turned this into a 30 second game of "guess how long the sound of his crying will travel." When the sound of the boy's crying stopped, I was more appropriately greeted by Christmas tunes. The only downside in the Christmas tunes was they were not playing throughout the whole park. I only heard them twice, and they could only be heard in their immediate vicinity. Though the lights were a pleasant enough experience on their own, providing a nice backdrop for a December evening stroll, my favorite part of the visit was the Train Station located inside the Visitor's Center. They had Gingerbread houses on display, and also a model train with every single cake topper imaginable located along the hills and plains surrounding the train tracks. (I refer to small plastic figurines as cake toppers, because I don't know what else they are used for). Dora, The Simpsons, and The Berenstain Bears all hang out in the same village that surrounds the train tracks. Who knew? I felt like a 4 year old naming all the cartoon characters I could spot. The only negative thing I encountered throughout the whole evening was a Pumpkin was not lit up correctly, though I'm not even sure why they have a Pumpkin made of lights at ZooLights. Am I supposed to be reminded of Pumpkin Pie during the Holidays? I was just reminded of Cinderella's beautiful coach turning back into an ole pumpkin after midnight. That slightly dampened the mood. read more

It free to get in and walk around was hoping to see lot of light everywhere but my daughter really enjoy it me not so much. I went on 12/12/15 and it was a warm day so it was pack people everywhere parking is crazy save $20 minimum and $40 for snack, drinks, light up toys, and rides a lot of walking wear comfortable shoes read more

ZooLights - My Kids @the zoolight - Zoos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We have been going to Zoolights for several years now and have enjoyed it every year -- except this year. The lights are very nice and make the main walk a magical place, especially for children. If all a visitor wants to do is walk along the path and experience the lights, then by all means do it. However, if it is cold or if a visitor wants to go to the zoo to see animals in addition to lights, the visitor will be greatly disappointed. This year, the only buildings that we could find that were open were those that sold things: food, drinks, toys, etc. We could find no building in which to sit down and warm up. In the past, even on very cold nights, going into the various animal houses along the walk made the evening pleasant and we were able to enjoy the lights when we went back out into the cold. Also, until this year, there had been a wonderful model railroad display and other displays in the visitor center. Hopefully this year's Zoolights is an aberration and next year it will be returned to a zoo event -- with animal displays along with the wonderful lights. We will attend next year in the hopes that the buildings will be open. But if they are not, that will be our last visit to Zoolights. read more